Online Fandoms Remake Political Media Landscape
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Resources & Recommendations
Organizations & Institutions
- Wired Magazine - Mentioned as "the bible of sorts for tech obsessed politics obsessed fans" due to its approach to covering the intersection of politics, internet culture, and technology.
- New York Times - Referenced as a traditional media outlet, and in the context of a "fair report" regarding David Sacks.
- Wall Street Journal - Mentioned alongside other traditional political publications.
- Washington Post - Referenced as a traditional political publication.
- Politico - Mentioned as a big political publication heavy hitter.
- The Hill - Listed among other major political publications.
- CQ Roll Call - An organization where McKenna Kelly interned, focusing on social media.
- FCC (Federal Communications Commission) - Mentioned in the context of the 2017 net neutrality revival under Ajit Pai.
- United States Digital Service - A federal agency focused on improving government services through technology, mentioned in the context of the DOJ takeover.
- IRS (Internal Revenue Service) - Mentioned in the context of data consolidation within government agencies.
- Social Security Administration - Mentioned in the context of data consolidation within government agencies.
- USAID - Referenced in the context of programs being cut during the DOJ story.
- Pentagon - Mentioned in the context of its press corps and bringing in right-wing creators for briefings.
- Northcom - Referenced in the context of Pentagon briefings for creators.
- Southcom - Referenced in the context of Pentagon briefings for creators.
- Turning Point (TPUSA) - An organization whose members are mentioned as attendees at Pentagon briefings and whose rallies were targeted by Fuentes supporters.
People Mentioned
- Dylan Byers - Host of The Grill Room podcast, mentioned by Julia Alexander.
- McKenna Kelly (Senior writer at Wired Magazine) - The guest of the episode, known for reporting on the intersection of politics, internet culture, and technology.
- Katie Drummond (Editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine) - Highlighted for her vision in shaping Wired's coverage, particularly regarding the "tech is politics" narrative.
- Elon Musk - Central figure in the "Doge" story, stepping in to lead the Department of Government Efficiencies within the Trump administration.
- Donald Trump - Referenced for his administration's interactions with the press, his use of Twitter, and his executive orders.
- Zohran Mamdani (Mayor of New York City) - Discussed as an example of a politician whose campaign was driven by social media authenticity and digital grassroots movements.
- Ajit Pai (Former FCC Chairman) - Mentioned in the context of the 2017 net neutrality debate.
- Taylor Lorenz - Mentioned as a reporter who tells stories of people using platforms.
- JFK (John F. Kennedy) - Referenced for his command of television as a new communication platform.
- FDR (Franklin D. Roosevelt) - Referenced for his command of radio as a new communication platform.
- Martin Luther - Referenced for his use of the printing press as a new communication platform.
- David Sacks (White House AI Czar, Co-host of All-In podcast) - Mentioned in the context of a New York Times report about potential conflicts of interest.
- Maggie Haberman - A reporter whose consistent byline is compared to McKenna's during intense coverage.
- Victoria Elliot (Wired colleague) - A colleague of McKenna's at Wired.
- David Gilbert (Wired colleague) - A colleague of McKenna's at Wired, described as a "best disinformation reporter."
- Nick Fuentes - A controversial figure discussed in the context of political clout and organized political factions.
- Azmin Gold (Twitch streamer, YouTuber) - Discussed as a non-political creator becoming more involved in politics, particularly through interactions with Elon Musk.
- Logan Paul - Mentioned as a non-political creator who interviewed a politician (Andrew Cuomo).
- Hassan Piker - A Twitch streamer mentioned in the context of political commentary.
- Benyamin Netanyahu - Mentioned as a politician interviewed by the Nelk Boys.
- Andrew Cuomo - Mentioned as a politician interviewed by Logan Paul.
- Mike (Logan Paul's co-host) - Mentioned in the interview with Andrew Cuomo.
- Gavin Newsom - Mentioned as a political figure trying to develop relationships with Twitch streamers.
Websites & Online Resources
- Wired.com - Referenced for McKenna's reporting on the "Doge" story.
- Blue Sky - A social media platform where McKenna posted her stories.
- X (formerly Twitter) - A social media platform where McKenna posted her stories, and also mentioned in the context of Elon Musk's takeover and Donald Trump's usage.
- Instagram - A social media platform where Cam Higby posted a picture.
- TikTok - A social media platform mentioned in the context of trained algorithms.
- YouTube - A social media platform mentioned in the context of "meandering YouTube drama" and political content.
- Twitch - A streaming platform mentioned in the context of Hassan Piker and Gavin Newsom's interest in streamers.
- Tumblr - A social media platform mentioned in the context of net neutrality activism.
- Facebook - Mentioned in the context of its height during the "pivot to video" era and moderation issues.
- 4chan - Mentioned as a platform associated with Nick Fuentes's early community.
- 8chan - Mentioned as a platform associated with Nick Fuentes's early community.
Other Resources
- Doge - Refers to the Department of Government Efficiencies, a federal initiative led by Elon Musk, which is a central topic of discussion.
- Net Neutrality - A policy debate mentioned as McKenna Kelly's "political tech awakening."
- Gamergate - An online harassment campaign mentioned as a precursor to the shift in power dynamics on the internet.
- AI (Artificial Intelligence) - Mentioned in the context of David Sacks's role and investments.
- The Bachelor - A TV show mentioned as a target for political ad placements.
- Survivor - A TV show mentioned as a target for political ad placements, with former contestants featured in Zohran Mamdani's campaign ads.
- Dream SMP - An online community formed around Minecraft content creators.
- Nelk Boys - Creators who interviewed Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Cumtown Boys - Creators mentioned as having a specific fandom.